African American wig care

Proper
African American wig care is very important if you want your wig to
look good for a long time. Of course, proper African American wig
care depends on what type of wig you have – whether or not you
have a synthetic wig, a human hair wig, a dreadlocks wig, etc.

General African American wig care:

• Wash your wig after you have worn it around 8-12 times.
In truth, though, you may be able to go longer without washing it,
or you may have to wash it much sooner – this depends on the
humidity and the air quality. And, for instance, if you go to a
smoke-y bar, you may want to wash that smoke-smell out of your hair
that night, even if you washed it just a few days ago! Be your own
judge.

• To wash your wig:

o Use a wig brush to brush through your wig.
o Be sure to use a wig shampoo. It is important that you do not
use regular shampoo, it can damage your wig.
o Fill up a sink with cold or lukewarm water and add the wig shampoo
(generally about a tablespoon… read the shampoo bottle for
precise directions).
o Place your wig in the water and gently swish it around –
be gentle! Do this for about a minute.
o Rinse your wig in cold running water until thoroughly rinsed.

• Use a towel to gently blot your wig dry – again, be
gentle! Do not wring out your wig!

• Now add a conditioning spray.

• Allow your wig to dry. You can use a Styrofoam head, but
it could stretch out the cap. You may, instead, prefer to set your
wig on top of something like a vase or a towel-covered hairspray
bottle.

• Do not brush your wig unless it is fully dry.

• Do not leave your wig out in direct sunlight to dry.

• If you decide to cut your wig, make sure that you are wearing
it for the best results.

• When not wearing your wig, leave it on a wig stand so that
it can keep its shape and not get tangled.

• When traveling, carry your wig in a wig box – you
don’t want it to be flattened.

Synthetic hair African American wig care includes not using a hair
dryer or any heat-source stylers like curling irons – these
could actually melt and frizz your synthetic hairs. Use only your
fingertips or a wig comb/brush to style the wig. Also make sure that
you keep your wig away from excessive heat like opened oven doors,
fireplaces, and barbecues.

Also, most synthetic wigs should not be worn in a swimming pool unless
otherwise stated. It is also very important that you do not use brushes
made for human hair – they can stretch out the synthetic hairs,
damaging them or frizzing them or breaking them. And do not try to
color or bleach your wig.

African American wig care is actually very similar to that of synthetic
hair. The main difference is that you can treat a real hair wig more
like you would treat your own hair.

You can use hot tools – blow dryers, curling irons, etc. –
to style your human hair wig. Of course, if you have a skin-like plastic
cap, you need to be aware that the plastic could melt when under high
heat.

An important note about dreadlocks African American wig care is that
both dreadlocks and spiral curl wigs should not be combed or brushed.
Doing so could undo the dreads.